The Mongar dzongkhag court yesterday dismissed the petition of Dema Yangzom, 43, who contested during the recent election for the Mongar thromde ngotshab post.

The court ordered the returning officer (RO) or election commission to settle the dispute as mandated by the Election Act.

Dema Yangzom contested for the post against Namgay Dorji and Damcho Dema, where Namgay Dorji was elected with 41 votes. Dema Yangzom secured 13 votes and Damcho Dema secured three votes.

Dema Yangzom appealed to the Mongar dzongkhag court, stating that she is dissatisfied with the count on poll day, April 18.

She justified that on the Electronic Voting Machine list, Damcho Dema was placed first, she was second and Namgay Dorji was third but when the election officer declared the results, he first declared Damcho Dema’s result, then Namgay Dorji’s and then hers.

“If we go on sequence, the second one secured 41 and it could be mine too,” she said. “A recount of the votes could clear my doubt.”

The dzongkhag election officer, Kunga said that the dzongkhag authorities are investigating following the court’s order. “She signed on the papers after declaring the results.”

Section 432 of the Election Act states that a candidate may within 24 hours of the announcement of the result by the RO, apply in writing to the RO to recount the votes either wholly or in part stating the grounds on which he or she demands the recount.

Tashi Phuntsho | Mongar

Advertisement